DIP TANK CHECKLIST
DIP TANK CHECKLIST Commitment makes the best chemistry. For more information call 1-800-BUCKMAN or visit buckman.com ©2009 Buckman Laboratories International, Inc. SERVICE PAIRED WITH INDUSTRY CARE We gang rip. We kiln dry. We run custom & stock mouldings. We surface and straight line. We deliver. We offer a comprehensive inventory that’s 3.5 million board feet strong. Among all the things we do, there’s one thing we don’t. We never say no. And that’s how you know we love what we do. GLEN ROCK, PA TOLL FREE 1.800.638.0296 WWW.OSHEALUMBER.COM TRADE TALK - Continued St. Louis, Mo.—The National Wood Flooring Association recently announced it would host its 2012 Convention in Orlando, Florida, April 10-13. The event will be held at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, the site of the NWFA’s 2002 show. While the 2012 show will feature traditional offerings like training and networking, the NWFA Convention Committee is in the process of relaunching the Expo portion, which will include incentives for attending and participating. “We are committed to hosting a show that offers real and tangible value to our members and industry,” states NWFA CEO, Michael Martin. “Our board of directors surveyed our exhibitors and past attendees after this year’s event, and we learned that late spring is the perfect time to hold this meeting. Our exhibitors tend to roll out new products in the first quarter of the year and want to showcase them at this event. Likewise our dealer/contractor attendees told us that they are busiest in the summer with installations and wanted the show in the spring. It’s also a huge plus to have everyone under one roof for all events at the Gaylord facility, which increases our networking opportunities.” For more information about the NWFA 2012 convention, contact the NWFA at 800-422-4556 or visit www.nwfa.org. • Memphis, Tenn.—The Shannon Lumber Group, based here, recently announced Dennis Hrusa and Steve Helffrich have joined the Shamrock Plank Flooring Division. Hrusa will serve as the Director of Shamrock Sales and Helffrich as the Plant Manager of the Shamrock Manufacturing Division. Hrusa comes to Shamrock with vast experience in the flooring industry including Mannington and Congoleum as well as Kentucky Wood Floors. A native of Buffalo, N.Y., he and his wife have three children. Helffrich enjoyed a successful tenure with Shamrock Plank Flooring from 2004 through 2008. A representative of Shamrock said, “We welcome Steve back with appreciation for his renewed commitment to the flooring industry.” Helffrich and his wife have one son. Shamrock Plank Flooring is a manufacturer of high quality pre-finished and hand scraped solid and enviorneered plank flooring. The Shannon Lumber Group is one of the most innovative and trusted suppliers of North American Hardwood products. Established in the late 1880’s as The Shannon Lumber and Stave Company, the representative said the family-owned and operated Shannon Lumber Group has cultivated relationships with the best Hardwood growers and built a reputation of excellence over five generations. For more information visit www.jtshannon.com or contact Lynda Edwards at ledwards@jtshannon.com. • 52 Hardwoods...A Renewable Resource
SW-COC-1627 The FSC trademark identifies products from well-managed forests © 1996 Forest Stewardship Council A.C. LAKE STATES TRENDS - Continued from page 45 stay flat. My gut feeling tells me I’m blessed. If fuel prices keep coming down, the RV industry will pick up and they are a huge part of our business.” Elsewhere in Michigan a contact accounted for mixed market conditions. “Our business is about 30 percent better than six months ago,” she commented. She attributed the improvement to supply issues. “For our region, lack of supply and a slight seasonal pickup is the contributing factor,” she explained. “My current customer base is busier because of the season.” Handling Hard and Soft Maple, Red Oak and Birch, the supplier said Soft Maple is moving the best and Yellow Birch is the slowest. “We’re having problems with logs. We had a struggle with a late break-up and now its pouring outside again with more rain in the forecast for the next few days. We had some down time in the mill and we’re hoping to continue to run steady but we’re not sure at this point.” The contact said her inventory levels are fairly low and prices are flat. As for other factors impacting her particular operation she said transportation is difficult. “We’re living through it but transportation is always difficult. We are located up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan so freight has always been more expensive but it seems like there is less truck availability now than before.” With 70 percent of their production going to end users, 20 percent to distribution yards and the remaining 10 percent to brokers, the contact said her end user customers have been busier. “Our wholesale customers, however, are having a difficult time finding what they’re looking for.” Forest Stewardship Council Certified, she said that area of their business is minimal. “We haven’t had any increase in demand for the FSC products.” As for the next six months, she said, “We’re nervous as hell. This time last year, business fell after the seasonal business was over. It seems like it’s a little stronger this year but my crystal ball has been murky for the last couple of years. Hopefully we’ll have a better year than 2010.” AJD Forest Products Premium Kiln Dried Hardwoods Northern Red Oak is Our Specialty Lake States Largest Producer of Industrial Lumber P.O. Box 629 Grayling, MI 49738 Phone 989-348-5412 FAX 989-348-2500 Email: fred@ajdforestproducts.com Website: www.ajdforestproducts.com DRY KILNS • 2 SAWMILLS 25,000,000 BF ANNUAL PRODUCTION Importers of fine flooring, lumber and decking • WEST COAST TRENDS - Continued from page 6 move in.” As for contributing factors, the contact said, “With the existing customers that we have, a lot more of the sales are cheaper imported furniture. A lot of the loss that we’re experiencing is also imported secondary products directly impacting our customers and the manufacturers here.” Handling all domestic Hardwoods along with some exotic Hardwoods the source said availability is good. “Even though we’ve lost a lot of production the demand has gone down with it, so availability is good right now. We carry approximately .5 million worth of inventory each year. Back before the ‘crash’ we carried another million in inventory because our sales warranted it. Our sales are still off conservatively about 40 percent compared to where they were three to four years ago. We’re still feeling it and recovery is going to be very slow, painfully slow I think.” However he did say business is stable. “Things certainly are picking up a little for our customers, so that is encouraging.” Operating his own trucks, the contact said, “Fuel cost has gone up a little bit but we can manage that ourselves because we do it in-house. I Please turn the page ICH, part of the DLH Group, is a wholesale importer of tropical hardwoods based in Currie, NC. Our extensive inventory includes over 45 species from around the world. *FSC Certified Sapele shown in background • 38 Acre Yard with T‐sheds • 320 Mbf Dry Kilns • 3 Million BFT KD Storage Capacity • S2S & SLR1E Services Available Our inventory of FSC Certified species include African Mahogany, Aniegre, Sapele, Utile, Jatoba, Genuine Mahogany, Caribbean Rosewood and Caribbean Walnut. PO Drawer 119 Currie, NC 28435 | Ph 910‐283‐9960 | Fax 910‐283‐9964 www.ichardwoods.com | info@ichardwoods.com AUGUST/2011 53
